Manawatu¯’s top speed skater takes on best
Manawatu¯ could have its next top international skater in the form of Awatapu College student Sam Portch.
The 17-year-old has just returned from the the world speed skating championships in the Netherlands with the New Zealand team.
He’s following in the footsteps of 29-yearold Peter Michael, a world junior and senior champion, who went to Awatapu too.
‘‘I look up to him a lot,’’ Portch said. ‘‘He’s a role model to me. I tend to do the same distances as him.’’
Portch finished 30th and 31st in two 10-kilometre races on track and road in the Netherlands. He was disqualified in another race for rough jostling.
He went over three weeks before the world championships for a few races and some of his better results included finishing fourth in a marathon and winning a 35-minute race.
It was better than he expected, he said. There are about seven people in each race when he competes in New Zealand, but in the Netherlands there were 30-40 people on the track at a time.
In one race he missed out on qualifying because he had to jump over someone.
Portch probably won’t go to the world championships next year because it will be his first senior year racing against experienced men.
The Manawatu¯ Showgrounds Skating Club member has represented New Zealand at three Oceania championships, including last year when he won a couple of medals.
He has been skating for eight years, having started going to roller discos at Bell Hall. Someone referred him to a learn-toskate class and is loving it now.
He is coached by Brett Mccormack of Dunedin.
Portch’s next big event is the national championships in Palmerston North in January, but otherwise he will keep training and going to small club competitions.
Skating takes up most of his time and he trains twice a day, skating at Memorial Park, or going to the gym or for a bike.
‘‘[Skating] is very hard. I get tired and sore a lot.
‘‘I get used to waking up and not being able to move.’’
He plans on working fulltime when he finishes school, but is considering moving to the Netherlands for his skating.